Figure 1 Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) is controlled by important factors related to diabetes. Diabetes patients have increased vascular calcification.

Figure 2 At 3 year follow up in the PROSPECT trial, events from the culprit lesions were 12.9% and from non-culprit lesions were 11.6% (p=not significantly different). This figure graphically illustrates the progression of atherosclerosis over time, leading in many patients to a myocardial infarction with ventricular damage. In the next 3 years, the less high grade lesions (non culprit) have a CV event rate very similar to the original culprit lesion.

Figure 3 This Infraredx near infrared spectroscopy with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) illustrates an intermediate lesion with a large lipid core.

Figure 4 An optical coherence tomography (OCT) image illustrating small microcalcifications in the thin plaque cap in a mild to intermediate coronary lesion.